Healthcare practices need modern electronic medical record (EMR) software to keep up with growing administrative burdens and evolving industry demands. According to a recent MGMA Stat poll, 32% of medical practice leaders named AI tools their top technology priority for 2025, highlighting the growing importance of intelligent, efficient EHR systems.
athenaOne and NextGen are two leading EMR solutions that offer a comprehensive suite of advanced features, including AI-powered tools, to streamline workflows, optimize efficiency, and reduce manual tasks. But how do they compare?
In this guide, we will break down their key features, AI capabilities, and overall performance to help you choose the right system for your practice.
Head-On Comparison
athenaOne is a fully integrated EMR and practice management solution for healthcare practices across multiple specialties. It integrates clinical, financial, and patient engagement features within a unified dashboard to help providers deliver value-based care. The vendor has also won three 2025 Best in KLAS awards, which highlights how its suite of end-to-end technology solutions improves healthcare experiences for both patients and providers.
NextGen Office EHR is another top-rated medical software platform designed to support the workflows of ambulatory care facilities across various specialties. It offers an advanced suite of solutions to help providers improve patient care and grow their practice. NextGen earned the 2025 Best in KLAS for behavioral health and secured multiple first-place ratings from Black Book Research.
athenaOne And NextGen: At A Glance
Feature
athenaOne
NextGen
Practice Management
✓
✓
Revenue Cycle Management
✓
✓
AI Scribe
✓
✓
Telehealth
✓
✓
Billing Reminders
✓
✗
Interoperability
✓
✓
API Marketplace
✓
✓
Adaptive Content Engine
✗
✓
Pros And Cons
PROS
Quick insurance verification
Frequent system updates
Coding assistance available
Seamless chart integration
Responsive customer support
Efficient charting macros
Quick payment posting
Reliable customer support
Smart phrase automation
Strong billing integration
CONS
Unreliable dictation feature
Difficult report generation
Inefficient faxing system
Inefficient reporting tools
Complex customization process
Redundant data entry steps
Side By Side Comparison
AI-Powered Scribe
athenaOne offers an AI-powered scribe that uses ambient listening and generative AI to automate clinical note generation. It is embedded in athenaOne Mobile, allowing providers to document seamlessly within their existing workflows. Physicians can easily choose from multiple ambient models to match their specialty and documentation style.
NextGen provides ‘Ambient Assist’, which uses AI to automatically convert doctor-patient conversations into structured SOAP notes with 90% accuracy in just 20–30 seconds. It also suggests ICD-10 codes, medications, lab orders, and charge capture workflows.
In addition, the system supports Spanish-language conversations and seamlessly integrates the notes into the EHR without manual copy-pasting.
Winner: NextGen takes the lead due to its faster note generation, built-in coding assistance, and multilingual support.
Patient Engagement
athenaOne offers a robust patient engagement solution that includes secure messaging, patient self-scheduling, and payment tools, all integrated within a user-friendly patient portal. It reduces administrative workload by offering self-service options, automated reminders, and tailored outreach messaging. These features help streamline communication, improve patient experience, and support better care coordination.
NextGen offers a broad set of patient engagement solutions through its Closed Loop system, which spans the entire care journey. It includes online visibility, self-scheduling, appointment reminders, digital document uploads, secure text messaging, and cost transparency. NextGen’s platform also facilitates care coordination and ongoing health management to support both patients and providers effectively.
Winner: Draw! Both athenaOne and NextGen offer powerful patient engagement tools. athenaOne prioritizes communication and self-service features, while NextGen provides a more comprehensive, end-to-end care experience.
Revenue Cycle Management
athenaOne offers a full suite of solutions to help practices maximize revenue with athena billing software. It provides complete visibility into revenue cycle performance with a real-time dashboard to track key metrics and identify areas for improvement. Additionally, the system offers features like automated alerts for patient eligibility issues and a billing rules engine that helps detect errors before claims are submitted.
NextGen streamlines revenue cycle management by integrating key tools like EHR, practice management, and billing systems into one dashboard. It offers a predictive rules engine that ensures 98% of claims are accepted on the first submission. NextGen also comes equipped with comprehensive reporting and A/R management tools that help optimize financial performance and reduce denials.
Winner: athenaOne edges out NextGen due to its comprehensive automation and real-time visibility, which helps practices optimize revenue cycle management more effectively.
Mobile Capabilities
athenaOne extends the full functionality of its EHR to mobile devices, allowing providers to access personalized workflows and patient records on the go. To reduce documentation time, it supports hands-free documentation with athenaOne Dictation and Voice Assistant. Additionally, the platform offers pre-encounter preparation tools, templates, and macros, all of which enable clinicians to document as they typically would within the EHR.
NextGen offers a cloud-based mobile platform designed to streamline documentation and enhance efficiency. It features advanced speech recognition and ambient listening technology to reduce after-hours charting. Clinicians can document using problem-based charting, complete charge capture, and securely send clinical images from their phones to the EHR. The mobile platform also supports e-prescribing and allows providers to manage tasks, medication refills, and approvals remotely.
Winner: NextGen because it goes further than just documentation, offering charge capture, image uploads, and mobile e-prescribing for a complete mobile experience.
Interoperability
athenaOne curates information from trusted sources and integrates it directly into clinical workflows. It supports multiple interoperability standards, including HL7 and C-CDA, and offers over 800 API endpoints for extended integrations. The platform facilitates automatic patient record sharing and provides on-demand data access through a browser-based SQL editor. Moreover, athenaOne connects with 84,000+ care sites via CommonWell Health Alliance and Carequality for nationwide patient data exchange.
NextGen offers strong interoperability with various interfaces, including document, lab, medical device, and PACS/RIS integrations. It uses its proprietary Rosetta HL7 interface engine to facilitate data exchange and supports bidirectional immunization registry sharing. NextGen also integrates with national labs like Quest and LabCorp and provides a Mirth Connect Integration Engine to transform and distribute data efficiently.
Winner: athenaOne stands out with its larger network and seamless integration into clinical workflows
Pricing Comparison
athenaOne’s pricing model is tied to a practice’s collections, which means the costs adjust with fluctuations in patient volume. Healthcare facilities can benefit from transparent pricing with no hidden fees, minimal upfront costs, and no long-term contracts. This makes it easier for providers to implement the system without a significant initial investment.
In contrast, NextGen offers a customizable pricing structure that varies based on a practice’s size, specialty, and required features. This flexibility allows healthcare providers to choose a pricing plan that fits their needs, but exact costs depend on the selected services and configurations.
Overall, athenaOne provides a more predictable and scalable pricing model, while NextGen offers tailored pricing based on individual practice needs. The right choice depends on whether your practice prefers a revenue-based model or a customized pricing plan.
Want a detailed cost comparison? Check out our comprehensive 2025 EHR pricing guide for a complete breakdown of costs and pricing models.
What Users Have To Say?
We at Software Finder gathered feedback from over 30 athenaOne and NextGen users from small to mid-sized practices to understand how these systems perform in real-world settings.
athenaOne is widely praised for its ease of use and ability to streamline communication between healthcare providers. Many users find it simple to access health records, test results, and messaging tools. One provider from an OB/GYN clinic specifically mentioned that the ability to fax reports directly to other providers has been a major advantage.
Additionally, some users noted that the billing process is intuitive and helps improve collections by 2% to 6%. However, some clinicians reported issues with customer support, mentioning minimal to no response when reaching out for assistance.
NextGen is recognized for its user-friendly design and customizable templates. Nearly three in four respondents said they appreciate the platform’s clean layout and intuitive navigation. One orthopedic specialist highlighted that NextGen provides a comprehensive musculoskeletal solution, which has helped improve workflow efficiency for their multi-discipline practice.
Some clinicians, however, noted that IT support is required after hours for even minor issues. Users also mentioned that system upgrades or maintenance, often scheduled on weekends, can disrupt workflows.
Final Thoughts: Which EHR Is Right For You?
Both athenaOne and NextGen offer robust EHR solutions, each with unique strengths. athenaOne is praised for its user-friendly interface, efficient communication, and streamlined billing process, which makes it ideal for practices focused on productivity and smooth workflow integration.
NextGen has extensive customization options and specialized tools catering to more complex practice requirements.
Both vendors have won Best in KLAS awards for 2024 and 2025, highlighting their commitment to delivering high-quality EHR solutions and continuous improvements in user experience. Ultimately, your choice should depend on your practice's size, budget, and specific workflow needs. For more insights and detailed comparisons, visit Software Finder.
